New Releases by Mark Billingham

The new Detective Miller thriller from bestselling author Mark Billingham, full of tension, wit and incredible twists. The Shadow Step: One taken simultaneously by a pair of dancers facing the same direction, one of them behind and slightly shifted leftwards (''in the shadow'') Typically, such a step perfectly demonstrates synchronized elegance. It showcases a couple in near telepathic harmony with one another. It does not normally end with someone stone-dead in a lake. DS Declan Miller is a magnet for strange cases, but how can he catch a killer when the man confessing to the crime is clearly innocent? Things rapidly escalate when the murder that isn''t really a murder at all attracts the unwanted attention of a drugs Queenpin, a deranged ex-squaddie and a lovesick gangland enforcer. Then a student is kidnapped... Throw in a wobbly dog, a pair of ceramic leopards and the distracting smell from a biscuit factory, and - if he wants to save a young man''s life - Miller has little choice but to waltz all the way into the shadows. PRAISE FOR THE DETECTIVE MILLER SERIES: ''The very best in the business'' RICHARD OSMAN ''Billingham is at his best'' KARIN SLAUGHTER ''Simply fantastic'' LISA JEWELL ''I''m excited to have found a new favourite detective'' CLAIRE DOUGLAS ''Funny, moving, and full of surprises . . . an absolute treat'' MICK HERRON ''This new series is bursting with wit, charm and intriguing, complex characters'' JANICE HALLETT

A spate of brutal murders threatens the newfound happiness of "one of the most credible and engaging heroes in contemporary crime fiction" (Ian Rankin). Tom Thorne finally has it all. In Nicola Tanner and Phil Hendricks, Thorne has good friends by his side. His love life is newly reformed by a promising relationship and he is happy in the job he has devoted his life to. As he sets off hunting the woman responsible for a series of grisly murders, Thorne has no way of knowing that he will be plunged into a nightmare from which he may never wake. A nightmare that has a name. Thorne''s past threatens to catch up with him and a ruinous secret is about to be revealed. If he wants to save himself and his friends, he will have to do the unthinkable. Tom Thorne finally has a lot to lose. Praise for the Tom Thorne series "Morse, Rebus, and now Thorne. The next superstar detective is already with us—don''t miss him." —Lee Child "Billingham is a world-class writer and Tom Thorne is a wonderful creation. Rush to read these books." —Karin Slaughter "With each of his books, Mark Billingham gets better and better. These are stories and characters you don''t want to leave." —Michael Connelly "Mark Billingham has brought a rare and welcome blend of humanity, dimension, and excitement to the genre." —George Pelecanos "A fantastic thriller, combining a gripping plot and lead characters of remarkable depth . . . Readers who grab this one but aren''t familiar with its predecessors will be seeking them out. A series to savor." — Booklist (starred review)

Deszczowa noc w Londynie. Z jadącego z wyłączonymi światłami auta padają strzały do nadjeżdżającego z przeciwka samochodu, który gwałtownie skręca i wjeżdża na wysepkę przystanku autobusowego. Inicjacja nowego członka gangu kończy się śmiercią niewinnego człowieka. Tak się przynajmniej wydaje. Ale prawda jest o wiele bardziej mroczna i złowieszcza.

Cel uświęca środki. Tom Thorne wraca do służby w wydziale zabójstw, znowu jest detektywem inspektorem. Ale w jego powrocie do pracy jest pewien haczyk. Stuart Nicklin, psychopatyczny seryjny zabójca manipulujący ludźmi i nakłaniający ich do morderstw, dogadał się z policją i zapowiedział, że ujawni miejsce, gdzie dawno temu pogrzebał ciało swojej ofiary. Nicklin zażądał, aby to właśnie Thorne eskortował go na miejsce zbrodni sprzed lat, odludną wyspę Bardsey u wybrzeży Walii. Thorne podejrzewa, że w jego żądaniu kryje się coś więcej, że sadysta ma jakiś ukryty plan, który zechce wprowadzić w życie, kiedy tylko dotrą na odciętą od świata wysepkę. Postanawia jednak wykonać zlecone zadanie. Plan Nicklina jest bardziej złożony, perfidny i sadystyczny, niż Thorne mógłby się spodziewać. Inspektor będzie miał przeciw sobie nie tylko niegościnną wyspę i siły natury, ale także swoje własne sumienie, gdy przyjdzie mu dokonać wyboru, jakiego się nie spodziewał i który podda w wątpliwość wszystko, w co do tej pory wierzył...

En netop løsladt fange går målrettet og nådesløst efter at straffe de mennesker, der er skyld i hans ulykke: den lange fængselsstraf og tabet af hans familie. Men hvorfor fotograferer han sine hævnaktioner og sender billederne til kriminalkommissær Tom Thorne? Svaret skal findes et sted i Thornes fortid. Den mest kyniske psykopat, Thorne nogensinde har mødt, har tilsyneladende ikke mistet sin uhyggelige evne til at manipulere med sine omgivelser – og han har ikke opgivet at få ram på den mand, der sendte ham bag tremmer. Opklaringen af sagen er et kapløb med tiden. For Thorne bliver det også et gensyn med fortidens rædsler.

Kriminalassistent Helen Weeks går ind i sin lokale kiosk i det sydlige London. Hun har afleveret sin søn i dagplejen og er på vej på arbejde. Inde i kiosken går alting galt, for Helen Weeks er blevet udset til gidsel i en dybt personlig sag. Gidseltageren, en indisk far, vil have svar på, hvordan hans søn kunne dø i et ungdomsfængsel. Gidseltagerens krav er, at den kriminalkommissær, der sendte hans søn i fængsel, også skal efterforske hans død. Kriminalkommissærens navn er Tom Thorne. Helen Weeks står i en umulig situation. På den ene side skal hun, som politibetjent, både bevare roen og berolige den desperate gidseltager. På den anden side vil hun gøre alt, hvad hun kan, for at redde sig selv og komme ud til sin lille søn igen.

I hånden på en myrdet kvinde finder politiets retsmedicinere en stump af et røntgenbillede, og det går op for kriminalkommissær Tom Thorne og hans kollegaer, at der er tale om en højst usædvanlig sag. Thorne opdager, at ofrets mor blev dræbt af seriemorderen Raymond Garvey, der nåede at myrde syv kvinder, før det lykkedes politiet at stoppe ham. Da flere lig og flere stumper af røntgenbilledet bliver fundet, står det klart, at nogen er i gang med at udrydde børnene af Garveys ofre. Thorne må nu sætte alt ind på at beskytte de sidste potentielle ofre – og på at indkredse en morder, der hele tiden er mindst ét skridt foran politiet.

Marcus Brooks kończy właśnie odsiadkę za zbrodnię, której nie popełnił. Niecierpliwie oczekuje na powrót do życia, do rodziny... Kilka dni przed opuszczeniem zakładu karnego otrzymuje wiadomość, że jego żona i dziecko zginęli, potrąceni na pasach przez samochód skradziony przez kilku nastolatków z gangu. Od tej pory przyświeca mu tylko jeden cel: dopaść tych, którzy są odpowiedzialni za śmierć jego bliskich, i tych, którzy wrobili go w morderstwo. Prowadzący sprawę detektyw inspektor Tom Thorne nie spodziewa się, że dzięki niej zetknie się z mrocznym koszmarem z przeszłości i będzie miał okazję uregulować rachunki za niedawną, rodzinną tragedię.

Twintig jaar geleden stak Gordon Rooker een schoolmeijse met aanstekerbenzine in brand – alleen vergiste hij zich. In plaats van de dochter van een bendeleider verminkte hij haar vriendin, die later zelfmoord pleegde. Carol Chamberlain, die hem indertijd heeft gearresteerd, heeft nog vaak nachtmerries van het verbrande meisje. Als ze op een dag gebeld wordt en een stem zegt: ''Ik heb haar verbrand...'' weet Carol één ding zeker: het is niet de stem van Rooker. Samen met rechercheur Tom Thorne duikt ze in de Londense onderwereld – die toch al op scherp staat door een aantal gruwelijke moorden door de mysterieuze ''X-man'' - om te achterhalen wat er echt is gebeurd.

Het motief voor de eerste moord was een raadsel. Tot iemand uit Tom Thornes team van de afdeling Ernstige delicten een stapel brieven vond, gericht aan het slachtoffer, een man die net uit de gevangenis was gekomen. Het was duidelijk dat hij in de val was gelokt. Bij de tweede moord '' weer op een ex-gevangene '' was niet zozeer het motief een probleem, als wel de vraag wie toegang had tot de databank met de gegevens van gevangenen. Werkt de dader bij de politie? Of is het een hulpverlener met een eigen wraakagenda? In ieder geval staat vast dat alle slachtoffers '' want er volgen er meer '' veroordeeld waren wegens verkrachting. In deze derde thriller van Mark Billingham is de hoofdrol weer voor inspecteur Tom Thorne en Dave Holland. Hun team wordt nu aangevuld met een gepensioneerde politievrouw, die is overgehaald om opnieuw aan het werk te gaan in het kader van een campagne om het personeelstekort bij de politie op te vangen.

Een serial killer-thriller met een moordend tempo! Carol Garner, een achtentwintigjarige lerares, is voor het laatst gezien op Euston Station, Londen, na een bezoek aan haar ouders. Twee dagen later wordt ze dood gevonden. Ze is gewurgd, in het bijzijn van haar zoontje van drie. Er is mogelijk sprake van een seriemoordenaar, want aan de andere kant van de stad is ook een vrouw vermoord, vrijwel op hetzelfde tijdstip en op precies dezelfde manier. Maar inspecteur Tom Thorne van de afdeling Ernstige delicten heeft zo zijn twijfels. Hoe dieper hij en zijn team in de zaken duiken, hoe meer hij ervan overtuigd raakt dat het niet om één moordenaar gaat, maar om twee. De vraag is echter: wie van de twee is het brein? En wat is de rol van de mysterieuze Karen? Gedreven door de overtuiging dat er op korte termijn nieuwe slachtoffers zullen vallen kiest Tom Thorne voor een zeer riskante methode.

In the latest Tom Thorne thriller from internationally bestselling author Mark Billingham, a seemingly straightforward suicide turns into a sinister story of obsession, deception, and murder.

''The SAS and all it stands for is exemplified in men such as Mark ''Billy'' Billingham. They are the backbone of the British military and I for one am thankful he is on our side!'' - Sir Ranulph Fiennes ''Billy is inspirational and always humble. A giant of a man!'' - Bear Grylls ''The most experienced Special Forces soldier in recent memory. The Hard Way is brutally brilliant.'' - Tom Marcus, Number One bestselling author of Soldier Spy Billy Billingham grew up tough; a grim future ahead of him offering little respite from the hostile streets he walked. Leaving school at eleven years of age, the threat of borstal hanging over his head, running with gangs in Birmingham, and almost being killed in a knife fight eventually led to Billy discovering the British armed forces at sixteen years of age. It would be the making of him. Billingham would graduate from the Royal Marine cadets to enlisting with the Parachute Regiment in 1983, where he would serve with distinction as a Patrol Commander and expert sniper. In 1991 he took on an even bigger challenge - taking the SAS course - the fearsome and secretive elite special forces unit with a well-won reputation for excellence in operating in extreme and hazardous conditions. He excelled in this life, rising to the rank of sergeant major for the regiment, and undertaking dozens of classified and extremely dangerous missions. He would ultimately serve seventeen years with the SAS, serving in countless war zones, winning a commendation for bravery and being awarded the MBE. After leaving the army he would embrace the life of a bodyguard to Hollywood stars such as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Sir Michael Caine, Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe, before being recruited as one of the lead instructors on SAS - Who Dares Wins for television. Billy is a highly-decorated veteran; with a reputation for excellence, honesty and integrity not only supporting his comrades Ant Middleton, Jason Fox and Ollie Ollerton, but equally intimidating and inspiring the contestants who take on the gruelling challenges each week. The Hard Way details Billy''s story thus far, but will also educate and enthral those wishing to seek a challenge and conquer it - the SAS way.

DE FØRSTE TRE KVINDER DØR. DEN FJERDE ER IKKE SÅ HELDIG … Alison Willets kan se, høre og føle, men hun kan hverken røre sig eller tale. Hun lider af locked-in syndrome. Politiet tror, at morderen har begået en fejl ved at efterlade Alison i live, men kriminalkommissær Tom Thorne finder hurtigt ud af, at Alison tværtimod er morderens mesterstykke. Thorne, som slæber rundt på lidt af hvert i den mentale rygsæk, og som har Massive Attack og Johnny Cash i cd-afspilleren, leder nu efter en psykopat med en usædvanlig og uhyggelig plan. Og Alison, som er den eneste, der kan identificere forbryderen, er effektivt forhindret i at fortælle nogen, hvad hun ved.

"T he action moves swiftly toward a big twist and the satisfying conclusion . . . shows why Billingham stands at the forefront of British crime authors" ( Publishers Weekly). Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl and Sharp Objects, has called Mark Billingham "one of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today," and this novel brings together his popular detective Tom Thorne and straitlaced DI Nicola Tanner on a pair of lethally high-stakes cases. While Tanner investigates the deadly spread of a dangerous new drug, Thorne is handed a case that he doesn''t take too seriously—until a spate of animal killings points to the work of a serial murderer. When the two cases come together unexpectedly, both Thorne and Tanner must risk everything to catch two very different killers. "Morse, Rebus, and now Thorne. The next superstar detective is already with us―don''t miss him." ―Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher series "Tom Thorne [is] worth getting to know." — The Washington Post

Help students to build their subject knowledge and understanding with activities, guidance and assessment preparation tailored to the 2017 OCR requirements and brought to you by subject specialist and OCR''s Publishing Partner for GCSE Psychology. - Prepare students for assessment with skills-building activities and practice questions developed for the new specification. - Progressively develop students'' subject knowledge through accessible diagrams and key content summaries that aid understanding and help weaker students access the main points. - Build conceptual understanding and critical thinking skills with a wealth of targeted activities. - Extend learning and enhance responses with extension questions, stimulus material and suggestions for further reading. - Consolidate understanding of technical vocabulary and core concepts through accessible explanations of key terms. Contents Introduction 1. Criminal Psychology 2. Development 3. Psychological problems 4. Social influence 5. Memory 6. Sleep and Dreaming 7. Research Methods Answers

In this "chilling and moving" international bestseller, two of London''s toughest detectives investigate the savage world of honor killings ( The Times, London). In Love Like Blood, DI Tom Thorne, "the next superstar detective," teams up with perfectionist DI Nicola Tanner, the protagonist of Billingham''s acclaimed stand-alone thriller Die of Shame (Lee Child). When her domestic partner Susan is brutally murdered, Nicola Tanner is convinced that she was the intended target. The murderer''s motive is likely connected to her recent work on a string of cold case honor killings. Despite being placed on leave, Tanner insists on pursuing justice for Susan—and she turns to fellow DI Tom Thorne for help. Agreeing to take the case, Thorne quickly finds that working in such controversial territory among London''s Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities can be dangerous in more ways than one. But when a young Bangladeshi couple goes missing, Tanner and Thorne must put everything on the line to investigate a case that is anything but cold. "Brilliant." — The Independent "Groundbreaking . . . a gripping, unsensational take on a type of crime that is happening more frequently than many of us realize." — The Sunday Times

Perfect strangers. A perfect vacation. The perfect murder. . . . "Hugely effective and entertaining [with] many twists and shocks" ( The Times, London). Three British couples meet around the pool on their Florida holiday and become fast friends. But on Easter Sunday, the last day of their vacation, tragedy strikes: The fourteen-year-old daughter of an American vacationer goes missing, and her body is later found floating in the mangroves. When the shocked couples return home to the United Kingdom, they remain in contact, and over the course of three increasingly fraught dinner parties they come to know one another better. But they don''t always like what they find. Buried beneath these apparently normal exteriors are some unusual kinks and unpleasant vices. Then, a second girl goes missing, in Kent—not far from where the couples live. Could it be that one of these six has a secret far darker than anybody can imagine? Ambitiously plotted and laced with dark humor, Rush of Blood is a "sizzling thriller" by the international bestselling author of the Tom Thorne Novels ( The Globe and Mail, Toronto).

A brutal murder casts suspicion on a London therapy group in this thriller from the author of The Bones Beneath: "One of my favorite new writers" (Harlan Coben). Every Monday evening, six people gather in a smart North London house to talk about shame. Among them are a grieving surgeon, a betrayed housewife, a taunting gay model, a barely recovered heroin addict. All they have in common is a history of pain and compulsions—until they''re linked by the brutal murder of one of their members. Det. Inspector Nicola Tanner is drawn into this intimate circle to find the killer. Unfortunately, not a single one of them is willing to share. Now it''s up to Tanner to delve into their pasts on her own. But what secret could be so shameful as to kill for it? Or die for it? And how can she possibly find the truth when lies and denial are second nature to her suspects? From British thriller master Mark Billingham comes "one of the best crime novels of the year . . . Shocking, frightening, gripping" ( The Independent). "Billingham is one of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today." —Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl "Keeps the reader guessing, and second-guessing." — Tampa Bay Times

Two British police detectives take on a case close to home: "One of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today" (Gillian Flynn). One of Entertainment Weekly''s "10 Great Summer Thrillers" Tom Thorne is on holiday with his girlfriend, DS Helen Weeks, when two girls are abducted in Helen''s hometown in Warwickshire. When a body is discovered and a man is arrested, Helen recognizes the suspect''s wife as an old school friend, and reluctantly returns home for the first time in twenty-five years to lend her support. As his partner faces up to a past she has tried desperately to forget and a media storm engulfs the town, Thorne becomes convinced that, despite overwhelming evidence of his guilt, the police have got the wrong man. There is still an extremely clever killer on the loose—and a missing girl who Thorne believes might still be alive . . . "Some ingenious forensic footwork. What is most impressive about the novel, however, is the astute observation of the beleaguered Bates family, who turn in on themselves as the inhabitants of the town turn on them." — The Guardian

The twelfth book in the Tom Thorne series, from bestselling author Mark Billingham. ''Atmospheric, gripping . . . with a superb ending'' Sunday Express The Deal Tom Thorne is back in charge - but there''s a terrifying price to pay. Stuart Nicklin, the most dangerous psychopath he has ever put behind bars, promises to reveal the whereabouts of a body he buried twenty-five years before. But only if Thorne agrees to escort him. The Danger Unable to refuse, Thorne gathers a team and travels to a remote Welsh island, at the mercy of the weather and cut off from the mainland. Thorne is determined to get the job done and return home before Nicklin can outwit them. The Deaths But Nicklin knows this island well and has had time to plan ahead. Soon, new bodies are added to the old, and Thorne finds himself facing the toughest decision he has ever had to make... Tom Thorne returns in this utterly gripping, brilliantly plotted thriller. The Bones Beneath is Sunday Times bestseller Mark Billingham''s most ambitious and accomplished work to date. ''One of the great series of British crime fiction'' The Times ''Mark Billingham gets better and better'' Michael Connelly

A murder-for-hire goes wrong in this thriller by "one of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today" (Gillian Flynn). After Alan Langford''s charred remains were found in his burnt-out Jaguar, his abused, long-suffering wife, Donna, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to ten years at Wakefield Prison. It was worth the time. But shortly before her release, Donna receives a nasty shock: an anonymous letter containing a recent photo of her husband—the man she despised and feared, the man she paid to have killed, the man she''s now begging London inspector Tom Thorne to find. Even for a seasoned DI like Thorne, this is a first: tracking a man who''s come back from the dead. But when Donna''s daughter suddenly disappears, Thorne finds himself following two trails of revenge and double cross. And they''re both leading into the menacing shadow of a killer who wants the case buried for good. With his multiple award-winning series, "Mark Billingham has brought a rare and welcome blend of humanity, dimension, and excitement to the genre" (George Pelecanos). From the Dead is not only "a good crime story, but . . . [a] novel . . .about the complexities and pitfalls of love" ( The Washington Post). "Engrossing . . . chillingly clever." — Publishers Weekly "Mark Billingham is one of my favorite new writers." —Harlan Coben "Tom Thorne is a wonderful creation. Rush to read these books." —Karin Slaughter, New York Times–bestselling author

Twenty thrilling writers. One chilling mystery. Pericles "Perry" Christo is a PI with a past--a former cop, who lost his badge and his family when a corruption scandal left him broke and disgraced. When wealthy Upper East Side matron Julia Drusilla summons him one cold February night, he grabs what seems to be a straightforward (and lucrative) case. The socialite is looking for her beautiful, aimless daughter, Angelina, who is about to become a very wealthy young woman. But as Christo digs deeper, he discovers there''s much more to the lovely "Angel" than meets the eye. Her father, her best friend, her boyfriends all have agendas of their own. Angel, he soon realizes, may be in grave danger. and if Christo gets too close, he just might get caught in the crossfire. This classic noir tale twists and turns down New York''s mean streets and along Hamptons'' beaches and back roads during a bitterly cold and gray winter where nothing is as it seems and everyone has something to hide.

"The next superstar detective" is back to stop a serial killer with a bizarre pattern—his victims are all taking their own lives (Lee Child). Recently demoted for stepping out of line once too often, prickly inspector Tom Thorne is convinced that a spate of suicides among the elderly in south London is something more sinister. When his concerns are dismissed by former colleagues at the CID, and even by his patient girlfriend, Thorne can only trust himself and his best friend—gay pub-crawling pathologist Phil Hendricks—with his suspicions of murder. Thorne draws a chilling connection between the deaths and a controversial case three decades old. But by going solo with his investigation, he not only risks the lives of those closest to him, but also further endangers those being targeted by a deranged killer—a man with the power and cold-blooded motives to coerce his vulnerable victims toward a breathtaking end. "Tom Thorne, the hero of a well-groomed series of police procedurals" by multiple award-winning Mark Billingham, returns—and he''s "on the hunt for a killer who proves to be extremely clever and really, really mean" ( The New York Times Book Review). "One of the most consistently entertaining, insightful crime writers working today." —Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl "Fiendishly clever . . . with the last sharp twist saved for the final page." — Tampa Bay Times

DI Tom Thorne is up against a gruesome adversary who''s killed three victims - but his fourth, although alive, has undergone a deliberately induced stroke. With all her senses are intact, she is unable to move or communicate. This is possibly the killer''s first miscalculation... or is it? Thorne (given to distrusting his own abilities) is playing cat-and-mouse with a psychopath who''s as interested in leading him a merry dance as he is in fulfilling his degraded obsessions.

The Crime The customers in a London convenience store are taken captive. Among them is young mother, Detective Helen Weeks. She is told her life depends on the co-operation of one of her colleagues - detective Tom Thorne. The Demand Akhtar is desperate to know what really happened to his beloved son, who died a year before in prison. He is convinced the death was not an accident and forces the one man who knows more about the case than any other, Thorne, to re-investigate. The Twist What Thorne discovers will upend everything he thought he knew about the fate of those he''s put away...but will it be enough to fulfill the wishes of a grieving and potentially violent father?

The seventh book in the Tom Thorne series, from bestselling author Mark Billingham. THE MESSAGE DI Tom Thorne has seen plenty of dead bodies in his time. But when he starts receiving sick photos of murder victims on his mobile phone, he soon realises that the next body could be his. THE KILLER And even when the man who has been sending the photos is tracked down, the deadly threat remains, For some, the case is all but closed, but Thorne''s nightmare is just beginning. THE TWIST Because someone else is masterminding the death messages. The most vicious psychopath Thorne has ever faced is able to manipulate others even behind bars, and time has only deepened the deadly grudge he has against the policeman who put him away... ________________ The outstanding new Tom Thorne thriller, THEIR LITTLE SECRET, is out now!

Some fires never go out ... X marks the spot -- and when that spot is a corpse''s naked back and the X is carved in blood, Detective Inspector Tom Thorne is in no doubt that the dead man is the latest victim of a particularly vicious contract killer. It''s morbid and messy -- but it''s a mystery with plenty of clues. This is turf warfare between North London gangs. Organized crime boss Billy Ryan is moving into someone else''s territory, and that someone is ready to stand up for what he believes is his. Thorne''s got plenty on his plate when he agrees to help out ex-DCI Carol Chamberlain rake through the ashes of an old case that has come back to haunt her. Schoolgirl Jessica Clarke was lit on fire twenty years ago. Now, Gordon Rooker, the man Chamberlain put away for the crime, is up for parole, and it seems there''s a copycat on the prowl. Or perhaps it''s someone trying to right a serious wrong: Jessica Clarke was the victim of mistaken identity. The intended target was the daughter of a gangland boss, a woman who would grow up to marry the current leader, Billy Ryan ... Thorne quickly identifies a tenuous link between the two crimes, and past and present fuse together to form a new, horrifying riddle. One that involves more killings, violence, greed, and a murderous family with no values -- except gain at any price. When an X is carved into his front door, Tom Thorne realizes that fires, once thought to be out, continue to burn.